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Word Study
owl
CIDE DICTIONARY
owl, n. [AS. ; akin to D. uil, OHG. , G. eule, Icel. ugla, Sw. ugla, Dan. ugle.].
- Any species of raptorial birds of the family
Strigidæ . They have large eyes and ears, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits. [1913 Webster]" Some species have erectile tufts of feathers on the head. The feathers are soft and somewhat downy. The species are numerous. SeeBarn owl Burrowing owl Eared owl Hawk owl Horned owl Screech owl Snowy owl Barn ,Burrowing , etc." [1913 Webster]" In the Scriptures the owl is commonly associated with desolation; poets and story-tellers introduce it as a bird of ill omen. . . . The Greeks and Romans made it the emblem of wisdom, and sacred to Minerva, -- and indeed its large head and solemn eyes give it an air of wisdom.Am. Cyc. - A variety of the domestic pigeon. [1913 Webster]
owl, v. i.
- To pry about; to prowl. [1913 Webster]
- To carry wool or sheep out of England. [1913 Webster]" This was formerly illegal, and was done chiefly by night." [1913 Webster]
- Hence, to carry on any contraband trade. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
owl, n.
1 any nocturnal bird of prey of the order Strigiformes, with large eyes and a hooked beak, including barn owls, tawny owls, etc.
2 colloq. a person compared to an owl, esp. in looking solemn or wise.
1 any nocturnal bird of prey of the order Strigiformes, with large eyes and a hooked beak, including barn owls, tawny owls, etc.
2 colloq. a person compared to an owl, esp. in looking solemn or wise.
Idiom
owl-light dusk, twilight. owl-monkey (pl. -eys) a douroucouli.
Derivative
owlery n. (pl. -ies). owlish adj. owlishly adv. owlishness n. (in sense 2). owl-like adj.
Etymology
OE ule f. Gmc
THESAURUS
owl
angry clouds, avifauna, baby bird, bird, bird of Jove, bird of Juno, bird of Minerva, bird of night, bird of passage, bird of prey, birdie, birdlife, birdy, black cat, black clouds, broken mirror, cage bird, chick, cygnet, diving bird, dove, eagle, eaglet, fish-eating bird, fledgling, flightless bird, fowl, fruit-eating bird, fulmar, game bird, gathering clouds, halcyon bird, insect-eating bird, migrant, migratory bird, nestling, oscine bird, passerine bird, peacock, peafowl, peahen, perching bird, pigeon, rainbow, ratite, raven, sea bird, seed-eating bird, shooting star, shore bird, songbird, squab, storm clouds, storm petrel, stormy petrel, swan, thundercloud, thunderhead, wading bird, warbler, water bird, waterfowl, wildfowlROGET THESAURUS
owl
Fool
N fool, idiot, tomfool, wiseacre, simpleton, witling, dizzard, donkey, ass, ninny, ninnyhammer, chowderhead, chucklehead, dolt, booby, Tom Noddy, looby, hoddy-doddy, noddy, nonny, noodle, nizy, owl, goose, goosecap, imbecile, gaby, radoteur, nincompoop, badaud, zany, trifler, babbler, pretty fellow, natural, niais, child, baby, infant, innocent, milksop, sop, oaf, lout, loon, lown, dullard, doodle, calf, colt, buzzard, block, put, stick, stock, numps, tony, bull head, dunderhead, addlehead, blockhead, dullhead, loggerhead, jolthead, jolterhead, beetlehead, beetlebrain, grosshead, muttonhead, noodlehead, giddyhead, numbskull, thickskull, lackbrain, shallowbrain, dimwit, halfwit, lackwit, dunderpate, lunkhead sawney, gowk, clod, clod-hopper, clod-poll, clot-poll, clot-pate, bull calf, gawk, Gothamite, lummox, rube, men of Boeotia, wise men of Gotham, un sot a triple etage, sot, jobbernowl, changeling, mooncalf, gobemouche, dotard, driveler, old fogey, old woman, crock, crone, grandmother, cotquean, henhussy, incompetent (insanity), greenhorn, dunce, lubber, madman, one who will not set the Thames on fire, one who did not invent gunpowder, qui n'a pas invente' la poudre, no conjuror, fortuna favet fatuis, les fous font les festinas et les sages les mangen, nomina stultorum parietibus harrent, stultorum plena sunt omnia.Also see definition of "owl" in Bible Study Dictionaries
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